By Alarab

The reputable "British Institute for Modern Economics" has recently certified in its "Happy Planet Index" that Tunisia is a place where life is enjoyable.

In the same index the U.S.A ranked 114th , UK 74th, France 71st, and Tunisia 29th.

The classification was based on the degree of public satisfaction with lives and earnings, and contentment with health, social welfare and proper exploitation of the country's natural resources with no damage to the environment.

Tunisia is not one of the pompous and boastful countries which cover up mismanagement and corruption with a veil of propaganda and deceitful public relations. The Tunisian ambiance is based on transparency.

Tunisia has won the respect and appreciation of the international community thanks to its constant economic growth and the advancement of its social welfare scheme which covers more than two thirds of the population, which means that the Tunisian public can afford all the necessities of life as well as many luxuries.

Many people wonder how can Tunisia achieve such prosperity while it has few natural resources. The answer lies in the country's sensible and practical development programmes which include provision of better health Care, social housing and electric power for all.

Many international institutions have praised Tunisia's wise investing of public funds, and its success in adopting modern technological advances. They have also commended the political stability enjoyed by the country. Throughout the years, President Zine Al Abdine Ben Ali has enacted new laws and regulations to ensure the permanence of that stability.

The Head of State has always been in touch with the citizen and striving to ensure the conformity of state objectives with the desires of the public.

This ensures close cooperation between the people and their government. Hence global authorities such as Dominic Straus, president of the International Monetary Fund, and Louis Casicandi, Senior economist of the African Bank of Development, have praised the strong growth of the Tunisian economy in spite of the current world depression.

The last but not least medal won by the Tunisian nation, this year, is the celebration of the 52nd anniversary of independence and the creation of the republic.

The Tunisian people deserve congratulations on this occasion which coincides with the summit conference of the Non- Aligned Nations which has adopted president Ben Ali's commendable more to dedicate next year (2010) to the youth of the world and to hold a global conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate and launch an international charter for youth which will bind young people all over the world to common Universal values.

-Alarab-
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